“Harry Potter And The Philosopher’s Stone” – Initial Reception

The score(s) next to each publication’s review and the average rating is an interpretation of the reviews by Literature’s Pretty Long History.

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The Post And Courier

Full Review

“These books are entertaining for all ages. If you don’t know what to talk to your preteen about these days, buy a couple of copies of Harry Potter and read them with your child. You’ll be talking about it for ages.”

Mindy Spar

The Atlanta Journal

Full Review

“While I was reading the book, I actually felt like I was really Harry.”

Mary Macon Price

The Atlanta Journal

Full Review

“It’s a good book, and it’s funny.”

Ahmani Dodoo

The Atlanta Journal

Full Review

“It’s a very great, interesting book.”

Craig Duke

The Wasatch Wave

Full Review

“This is high fantasy at its best, and it especially appealing to the young reader because Harry and his friends face their greatest challenges without any support from adults until the very end.”

Val Chin

The Sunday Oregonian

Full Review

“Clever, fast moving and fun, the tale deserves its accolades.”

Dawn Flora Cadwell

The Free Lance-Star

Full Review

“With elements of the classic school story and old-fashioned fantasy, this is a book to savor.”

Caroline Parr

BookPage

Full Review

“In her debut effort, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Rowling crafts a tale of magical mayhem truly worthy of the often over-used phrase, a contemporary classic.”

Denise Yagel

Anderson Independent-Mail

Full Review

“The recent life of author J.K. Rowling is a fairy tale that rivals the fantasy of her delightful best-selling children’s novel, “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” (Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic, $16.95).”

Karen MacPherson

Anderson Independent-Mail

Full Review

“…is witty, intelligent, at times, laugh-out-loud hilarious, and a knotty little mystery to boot.”

Kathryn Smith

Teaching Pre K-8

Full Review

“Furthermore, these books are well-written.”

Carol Otis Hurst

The Atlanta Journal

Full Review

“Rowling’s rousing and delightful “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” and “Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets,” the first two installments of a projected seven-part series about the schoolboy wizard.”

Greg Changnon

The Ottawa Citizen

Full Review

“Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone unites the English novel of school-day exploits with the humorous, macabre fantasy that Roald Dahl perfected.”

Charles Taylor

Hartford Courant

Full Review

“The books are witty and creative adventure stories.”

Ruth Danckert

Orlando Sentinel

Full Review

“The only thing that would be better than reading a Potter book, at this point, would be listening to it.”

Sandy Bauers

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Newsday

Full Review

“The alternate universe is one of the most appealing storytelling tricks, and Rowling embroiders her secret world wonderfully.”

Sonja Bolle

Voices From The Middle

Full Review

“This is a wonderfully woven novel with a mystical plot and rich language.”

Anu Vasudevan

Language Arts

Full Review

“Readers of all ages will find it difficult to put this book down.”

Linda N. McDowell

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New England Reading Association Journal

Full Review

“Adults and children alike will be looking forward to the next adventure of Harry Potter.”

Anonymous

The Horn Book Magazine

Full Review

“A charming and readable romp with a most sympathetic hero and filled with delightful magic details.”

Ann A. Flowers

Average Rating